Pro Bono Net will be represented at the Pro Bono Institute (PBI) Conference this year in Washington, D.C. The PBI conference, which will take place in person from March 8-10, 2022, is an annual event tailored to the interests and needs of pro bono leaders at law firms, in-house legal departments, and nonprofit legal services organizations. The conference will also have a virtual component from April 6-7, 2022.
Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit leader in increasing pro bono and access to justice through innovative uses of technology and collaboration. Our staff consists of a cross-disciplinary team from legal, technology, and community engagement backgrounds committed to creating innovative, sustainable solutions that support low-wealth individuals with their legal needs.
Our Pro Bono & Strategic Initiatives Manager, Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, is presenting in two sessions on disaster relief and recovery at this year’s PBI conference. The topics of the sessions align with the 2022 Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, a joint effort of Pro Bono Net, Equal Justice Works, and other leading organizations supporting disaster relief. Disaster Resilience Awareness Month is observed every March and is an opportunity to highlight the vital role pro bono advocates play in helping families navigate the impact of climate disasters.
Pro Bono Net Board member Tiffany Graves is also participating as a speaker at the conference, and Pro Bono Net will be a part of the conference EXPO, where attendees can learn more about programs and pro bono opportunities. For more information on these panels and activities, you can refer to the information below. For other sessions at the PBI conference, please visit the conference website here.
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
2:15 – 3:15 pm ET
What Counts? Defining Pro Bono
Over the years various organizations have adopted rules promoting a lawyer’s professional obligation to pro bono legal services. These rules include the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® initiative, which was established more than 25 year ago and has become an industry standard. But has the evolution in access to justice issues left room for changes in policies on what counts as pro bono? This session will discuss current efforts by law firm leaders to review the definition of pro bono, as defined by the Challenge, focusing on particular areas, including: public rights, impact finance & social enterprise, global pro bono, and racial justice.
- Tiffany Graves, National Pro Bono Counsel, Bradley Arant Boult & Cummings LLP and Pro Bono Net Board Member
- Wendy Atrokhov – Public Service Counsel, Director of Global Pro Bono Latham & Watkins
- Paul Lee – Pro Bono Counsel, Steptoe
- Nihad Mansour – Assistant Director of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project, Pro Bono Institute
- Angela H. Zimmern – Senior Counsel and Pro Bono Director, McGuireWoods
Thursday, March 10, 2022
9:45 – 10:45 pm ET
Live, Learn, Pivot: Making Disaster Preparedness and Relief More Equitable (Part I: Panel)
We live in a world where disasters are more frequent and where low-income and underserved communities bear the disproportionate brunt of the massive disruptions and harm left behind. Making disaster preparedness and relief more equitable can help ensure that all residents, regardless of socio-economic factors, can prepare and recover from disasters. This session will explore unique insights and perspectives gained through experiences and collaborations so that attendees can develop tools, strengthen partnerships, and provide a practical framework for responding to future disasters. A panel of experts from California, New York, North Carolina, and Georgia will discuss shared (and differing) experiences and perspectives on issues and pro bono in disaster legal services — all with a lens toward equity and proposed solutions.
- Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, Pro Bono & Strategic Initiatives Manager, Pro Bono Net
- Tiela Chalmers – Chief Executive Officer/General Counsel, Alameda County Bar Association and Legal Access Alameda
- Cheryl Naja – Director of Pro Bono and Community Service, Alston & Bird
- Iris Peoples Green – Director of Constituent Services, Disability Rights North Carolina
- Katherine Blass Asaro – Executive Director, North Carolina Legal Education Assistance Foundation
- Rachel Williams – Pro Bono Counsel, Morrison & Foerster
Thursday, March 10, 2022
11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
Live, Learn, Pivot: Making Disaster Preparedness and Relief More Equitable (Part II)
Interactive Workshop (Note: you do not need to attend Part I to attend Part II.) Join this interactive session with experts from California, New York, North Carolina, and Georgia (and put in practice learning from Part I) to model how to organize volunteer responses when disaster strikes.
- Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, Pro Bono & Strategic Initiatives Manager, Pro Bono Net
- Tiela Chalmers – Chief Executive Officer/General Counsel, Alameda County Bar Association and Legal Access Alameda
- Cheryl Naja – Director of Pro Bono and Community Service, Alston & Bird
- Iris Peoples Green – Director of Constituent Services, Disability Rights North Carolina
- Katherine Blass Asaro – Executive Director, North Carolina Legal Education Assistance Foundation
- Rachel Williams – Pro Bono Counsel, Morrison & Foerster
Thursday, March 10, 2022
4:00 – 5:00 pm ET
Pro Bono Expo and Closing Reception
Join us for more networking! Don’t miss this program – the annual catalyst for new partnerships, relationships, and pro bono initiatives. Meet leading advocates from a range of public interest organizations and learn about cutting-edge issues ripe for pro bono representation.